Wikipedia

Tyla

For other uses, see Tyla (disambiguation).

Tyla Laura Seethal (born 30 January 2002), known mononymously as Tyla, is a South African singer. Her musical style is characterised by a fusion of the pop and amapiano genres, with many publications dubbing her "Queen of Popiano."

Tyla
Tyla in 2024
Born
Tyla Laura Seethal

(2002-01-30) 30 January 2002 (age 22)
Edenvale, Gauteng, South Africa
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2019–present
WorksDiscography
AwardsFull list
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentsVocals
Labels
Websitetylaworld.com

Born and raised in Johannesburg, Tyla signed with Epic Records in 2021 following the domestic success of her 2019 debut single, "Getting Late". She gained international recognition after the release of her 2023 single "Water", which entered the top ten in multiple countries including her native South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. "Water" was the first song by a South African soloist to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 in 55 years and was awarded the inaugural Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance. The single preceded her self-titled debut album (2024), which was released to critical acclaim and moderate commercial success, entering the top 25 in multiple countries including the United States.

Tyla is the youngest African artist in history to win a Grammy Award. Her other accolades include an MTV Video Music Award, two BET Awards and the honorary Global Force Award at the first Billboard R&B's No. 1's, among nominations for a Brit Award, an Ivor Novello Award, a Soul Train Music Award and nine South African Music Awards.

Early life

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Tyla Laura Seethal[4] was born on 30 January 2002 in Edenvale, East Rand,[5][6] to a Coloured family with Indian,[7][8] Mauritian, Zulu, and Irish ancestry.[9][10][11] She grew up in Johannesburg, Gauteng,[12] and graduated from Edenglen High School in 2019, where she was the Head of Culture.[13]

During her final year of high school, she began pursuing a career in music, posting original songs and covers on Instagram and actively seeking out opportunities in the music industry. She was discovered by her first manager, Garth von Glehn, who organized her first recording sessions.[2][14] Tyla stated that she spent every weekend of her final year of high school in the recording studio.[15]

Career

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2019–2022: "Getting Late" and national success

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Tyla in an interview with Capital FM Kenya in 2021

In late 2019 after finishing high school,[7] Tyla self-released her debut single, "Getting Late" featuring production from Kooldrink, which achieved national success.[10] Filmed by her own manager intermittently throughout the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns,[14] the accompanying music video was released in January 2021.[16] It amassed several million views on YouTube,[17] and was nominated for South African Music Award for Best Music Video of the Year in 2022.[18]

She had been studying towards a degree in mining engineering,[19] and after much persuasion and "a lot of crying", her parents had agreed to let Tyla take a year off university to attempt to lift her music career off the ground.[15] She then signed a recording contract with Epic Records through a joint venture with Fax Records in the United States in May 2021.[20][21] She followed up her debut single with the singles "Overdue" in October 2021 and "To Last" in November 2022.[22][23]

2023–present: International breakthrough with "Water"

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Tyla at the 2024 Met Gala
See also: Water (Tyla song) and Tyla (album)

Tyla's first public performance occurred in 2023 during the Dolce & Gabbana afterparty at Milan Fashion Week,[24][10] following the release of her single "Been Thinking",[25][26] which earned Tyla her first chart placements of her career, on the Billboard Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and Rhythmic Airplay charts.[27][28] Heven Haile of Pitchfork described it as a "slick club anthem that channels the seductive pop-R&B hits of mid-2000s Ciara and Rihanna".[29] Tyla then joined Chris Brown as the opening act for his Under the Influence Tour.[30] In May 2023, she released the single "Girl Next Door", featuring Nigerian singer Ayra Starr.[31]

She released the song "Water" in July 2023 as the lead single from her self-titled debut studio album.[32][10] After spawning a viral dance challenge on the social media platform TikTok,[33][34] "Water" peaked within the top 10 in multiple countries including South Africa,[35] the United States,[36] and the United Kingdom.[37] Tyla became the first and youngest-ever South African soloist in 55 years to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 with "Water", following Hugh Masekela's "Grazing in the Grass" in 1968.[38]

Tyla performed "Water" live on The Bianca Show in Sweden and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in the United States.[39][40] The music video for "Water" was released on 6 October 2023, it accumulated 3 million views on YouTube in three days.[41] Tyla was then featured on a remix version of "Girls Need Love" by Summer Walker, released as part of the latter's Girls Mix extended play in October 2023.[42] On the eve of December 2023, she announced the release of her debut studio album, Tyla (2024), and simultaneously released three songs: "Truth or Dare", "On and On", and "Butterflies", as promotional singles from the project on an extended play of the same name.[43] Tyla performed a medley of "Water" and "Truth or Dare" on the season 24 finale of The Voice on 19 December 2023.[44] At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2024, Tyla became the first person to win the inaugural Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance with "Water", also becoming the youngest-ever African artist to win a Grammy Award.[45]

Tyla's self-titled debut album was officially released via Fax and Epic Records on 22 March 2024.[46] The single "Art" and its accompanying music video were released in tandem with the album.[47] Tyla received widespread critical acclaim,[48] and was a top-25 album in the United States,[49] the United Kingdom,[37] the Netherlands,[50] Norway,[51] New Zealand,[52] and Switzerland.[53] Tyla received the most nominations at the 18th Metro FM Music Awards in South Africa, with six nods.[54][55] She went on to win the most awards at the 2024 BET Awards, tying with Usher and Victoria Monét at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California,[56] where she delivered a live performance of "Jump" for the first time alongside Gunna and Skillibeng.[57] On 11 October 2024, Tyla released the deluxe edition of her self-tilted debut studio album comprising three additional songs including "Push 2 Start". Musically, "Push 2 Start" is a reggae-infused amapiano pop track, which was positively received and it's music video premiered on YouTube on 8 November 2024.[58][59][60]

Artistry

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"When I was a kid, I always hoped that a pop star like Rihanna, Britney Spears or Michael Jackson would come out of South Africa. I wanted a star to come from my hometown. Now, for the people of my hometown, I want to be a pop star who represents South Africa"

Tyla talking to Rolling Stone on 19 January 2024.[61]

 
Tyla on the red carpet at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2024

Tyla's biggest musical influences include Michael Jackson, Aaliyah, Rihanna,[62] Cassie, Ciara,[63] Shakira, Freshlyground,[10] Britney Spears,[64] Drake and Wizkid.[65] She has said that her dream is to become the first global pop star from Africa.[66][14] She has since been deemed the "Queen of Popiano",[12][67] a fusion of the pop and amapiano genres,[68] infused with elements of R&B and Afrobeats.[69]

Discography

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Main article: Tyla discography

Tours

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Headling

Supporting

Awards and nominations

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Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Tyla

Tyla was named the inaugural winner for Best African Music Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.[70] Her accolades include two BET Awards,[71] MTV Video Music Award,[72] and the honorary Global Force Award at the first Billboard R&B's No. 1's.[73] Tyla was named the most nominated artist at multiple award ceremonies, she led the 18th annual Metro FM Music Awards with six nominations,[74] the 30th South African Music Awards with five nominations,[75] and the 3rd annual Basadi in Music Awards with five nominations, the latter where she won three awards.[76] Tyla went on to receive the most awards at the 2024 BET Awards, tying with American singers Usher and Victoria Monét at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California,[77] where she was named the Best New Artist,[78] and Best International Act.[79] Her nominations include South African Music Award for Album of the Year, Soul Train Music Award for Best New Artist, Brit Award for International Song and Metro FM Music Award for Song of the Year amongst others.[80]

See also

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References

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  2. ^ a b Dunn, Frankie (3 April 2021). "Tyla is on a mission to become South Africa's biggest popstar". i-D. Vice. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  3. ^ Campbell, Erica (8 March 2023). "Tyla: "I really want eyes on all African artists, because we need more attention"". NME. Archived from the original on 7 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  4. ^ Birjalal, Alyssia (11 June 2024). "From music to fashion, Tyla is making major moves as she builds her brand". Independent Online. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  5. ^ Zwane-Ejike, Nokuthula (12 January 2024). "A Grammy nod, big collaborations and a new album on the way – singer Tyla is unstoppable!". News24. You. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024 – via Media24.
  6. ^ Tjiya, Emmanuel (9 June 2023). "Tyla: The girl next door". The Sowetan. OCLC 28688177. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
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  35. ^ Peak chart positions in South Africa:
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  60. ^ Andriyashchuk, Yuriy (8 November 2024). "Tyla releases visuals for "Push 2 Start"". Hip Hop Vibe. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  61. ^ Mier, Tomas; Woldenberg, Ilana (19 January 2024). "Amapiano's rising star, Tyla, talks about the behind-the-scenes story of the creation of one of the biggest hits of 2023, "Water"". Rolling Stone Japan. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  62. ^ Rubenstein, Janine (8 November 2023). "Tyla, Singer of Viral Hit 'Water,' Says Her DMs Are 'Always Active' (Exclusive)". People. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  63. ^ "INCREDIBLE WOMEN OF 2024: GRAMMY-WINNING ARTIST TYLA". Net-a-Porter. YOOX Net-a-Porter Group. 18 March 2024. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024. Much like her musical influences, her personal style references the seductive club culture of the early aughts with clear nods to Rihanna, Cassie and Ciara in the genesis of their careers.
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  67. ^ Griffin, Marc (1 July 2024). "Tyla Delivers Sultry Rendition Of "Jump" At 2024 BET Awards Performance". Vibe. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  68. ^ Phillips, Lior (25 March 2023). "'It's sunny, with music bumping, and everyone in ripped clothing': how Tyla set a new pop mood". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
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  74. ^ Keteyi, Oluthando (28 March 2024). "Tyla leads Metro FM Awards nominations followed by Kabza De Small and Tyler ICU". Independent Online. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  75. ^ Keteyi, Oluthando (26 September 2024). "Tyla's reign continue as she leads SAMA Awards nominations". Independent Online. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  76. ^ Awards received by Tyla:
  77. ^ Grein, Paul (1 July 2024). "Usher, Tyla & More Record Setters at 2024 BET Awards". Billboard. Archived from the original on 23 July 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
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  80. ^ Adapted from List of awards and nominations received by Tyla.
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